Indonesia may need an additional 100 trillion rupiah ($6.1 billion) this year to expand President Prabowo Subianto’s free lunch program to cover nearly 83 million people by year-end, according to a top official.

Samuel Sekuritas Indonesia's senior economist warned that the free meal program could significantly widen Indonesia's 2025 budget deficit.

Indonesia's central bank unexpectedly cut policy rates on Wednesday, resuming its monetary easing to prop up growth in Southeast Asia's largest economy despite financial market volatility that has sharply weakened the rupiah currency.

Indonesia needs 100 trillion rupiah ($6.11 billion) in additional budget to expand its free nutritious meals programme to reach more than a quarter of its population by year-end, the head of the agency overseeing the programme said on Friday.

Indonesia's finance ministry said on Thursday it had issued a regulation to implement the global minimum corporate tax at 15% effective from Jan. 1, as part of an international push to limit tax competition between countries.

Indonesia has officially joined the Brics group, adding Southeast Asia's largest economy and most populous country to the economic and political bloc founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009.

Indonesia is defying pressure on the beleaguered rupiah to shore up the country’s slowing economy three months into President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, even as analysts warn the policy moves may backfire.

Indonesia will impose interim child protection guidelines on social media companies while the government carves out a law to set a minimum age for users of the platforms, a senior communications ministry official said on Wednesday.

Commodities will always be a key pillar of Indonesia’s economy, but as capital pours in to expand its technology infrastructure, the country

Japan and Indonesia have pledged to deepen economic and defense ties during a visit by the Japanese prime minister amid heightened global geopolitical tensions.

President Prabowo Subianto’s free lunch programme is a result of a campaign promise to improve health, education, and grow the economy.

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia needs 100 trillion rupiah ($6.11 billion) in additional budget for its free nutritious meals programme to be expanded to reach 82 million recipients, the head of a government agency overseeing the programme said on Friday.